Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-branched Polyethylenimine-poly(L-phenylalanine) Block Copolymer Synthesized by Multi-initiation Method for Formation of More Stable Polyelectrolyte Complex with Biotherapeutic Drugs

Abstract

【An amphiphilic cationic branched methoxy poly (ethylene glycol)-branched polyethylenimine - poly(L-phenylalanine) (mPEG-bPEI-pPhe) block copolymer was successfully synthesized by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of N-carboxyanhydride of L-phenylalanine (Phe-NCA) with mPEG-bPEI for the preparation of more stable polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) included a hydrophobic interaction. mPEG-bPEI was firstly prepared by the coupling of mPEG and bPEI using hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI). The structural properties of mPEG-bPEI-pPhe copolymers were confirmed by $^1H$ NMR. The copolymers exhibited a self-assemble behavior in water above critical aggregate concentration (CAC) in the range of 0.01-0.14 g/L. The CAC of copolymers obviously depended on the hydrophobic block content in the copolymers (the value decreased with the increase of the pPhe block content). The cationic copolymers have the ability to form multi-interaction complex (MIC) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and plasmid DNA through multi-interaction (electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction). The physicochemical characterization of the complex was carried out by the measurement of zeta potential and particle size. Their zeta-potentials were positive (approximately +10 mV) and their sizes decreased with increasing pPhe contents in the copolymers (PPF/BSA wt% ratio = 2). The complex showed good stability at high ionic strength. Therefore, mPEG-bPEI-pPhe block copolymer was considered as a potential material to enhance the stability of complex including biotherapuetic drugs.】